by K. M. Scott
“You’re so natural as a father, Tristan. I’ve watched you with them since they were born, and you so easily slipped into your role. I don’t know why I haven’t, but I want to. I really do. I don’t want our kids to grow up and think that their mother doesn’t love them. I love them with all my heart. It just feels nice sometimes to be something other than a mom. You probably can’t believe what I’m saying, right? You probably think it’s awful.”
“No, I don’t think you’re awful. They’re only a year old, honey. They aren’t laying in their cribs telling one another you don’t love them if you don’t spend day and night standing over them.”
“You joke, but it all seems so normal for you. From the moment they were born, you were right there holding them and showing how crazy you are about them. I want to be like you, Tristan. I see how you hold Diana and wish I was like that. Or when you tickle Tressa or talk to Ethan about what it’s like to be the only two males surrounded by all women, you seem so natural, like this is the role you’re perfect for.”
Tristan cradled my face in his hands and pressed his forehead to mine in that way that never failed to make me feel adored. Looking at me with those soulful brown eyes, he smiled. “You want to be perfect at this whole mother thing, but all you need to do is be the caring person you’ve always been and our children will love you. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else, even me. Just be yourself.”
I rested my head on his chest. “I have gotten better at it since the depression ended. I just always feel like I’m not doing enough.”
“You’re great with all three of them. And you never favor any of them over the others like I do.”
I thought about how clearly Tristan always favored Diana and wondered aloud, “Why do you favor Diana so much?”
With a look of sadness in his eyes, he said, “Because I wasn’t sure she’d make it in the beginning. She was so tiny and so frail. I remember holding her in those first days and silently telling her that she just needed to be strong like her sister and brother. That if she could muster up that strength that I’d never let her go. So I still favor her now. I know I have to stop before they get old enough to see it, but I still worry about my little girl.”
Taking his cold hands in mine, I brought them to my cheek. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you then, Tristan. You did all the worrying for the two of us, and I can’t tell you how much I wish that hadn’t happened.”
His face brightened. “You don’t have to be sorry. I always knew the Nina I loved would come shining through at some point. I could never do what you did—carry three children and go through the trauma of that C-section like you did. I’m physically strong, but I’m not sure I’d have the strength for that. You did, though. So you needed a little time off after. The least I could do is take over since you’d given me three beautiful children.”
“I never thought about it that way.”
“Well, you should. You did an incredible thing when you brought those three kids into our lives. And I’m sorry that you think I’m too protective with you, but this is who I’ve always been. You know that.”
“I know, and usually I love that whole protective Alpha male thing you have going on. It’s pretty hot actually. It’s just that I like being able to do secret things to surprise you and I can’t do that if someone’s always following me around.”
“Being Nina Stone means having people protect you, whether it’s me or the bodyguards and driver. I can’t change that.”
I knew he was right. All the wonderful things that came from being married to a powerful man like Tristan made my dislike for bodyguards and a driver seem pretty minor.
“I know, and I wouldn’t change a thing about our lives. I guess I could just shop online. Or maybe I could get myself a shopper like you have Angelo. Then I’d be able to surprise you whenever I wanted.”
He smiled in that sexy way that always made me want him. “You know I love surprises, right?”
“That’s sarcasm, Mr. Stone, isn’t it? What if I told you that I think we should settle in over there right in front of the fire and have ourselves a good time while we wait for Jensen?”
Tristan arched one eyebrow and ran his tongue along his lower lip. “Now that’s a surprise I can deal with.”
Chapter Six
Tristan
The fire had barely warmed the room to fifty-five degrees, but I didn’t care. The snow continued to fall, so we’d have the abandoned farmhouse all to ourselves for at least a few hours more before Jensen arrived to rescue us. Looking down into Nina’s blue eyes, I watched them sparkle in a way I hadn’t seen them look in far too long.
“Come here,” I said and pulled her by the hand until her body was pressed up against mine. “Do you know how much I love you?”
Measuring out about an inch between her thumb and forefinger, she said, “About this much?”
“More than I ever thought I could love someone. When I was out there driving around looking for you, the thought of what my life would be like if suddenly you weren’t in it anymore ran through my mind. For a minute, I felt hollow inside, like there was nothing left of me if I didn’t have you.”
She stood on her toes and kissed me. “I’m all yours, Tristan. I’ve always been all yours.”
I cradled the back of her head and pressed my mouth to hers in a kiss full of how much I adored her. She made my world complete, even if a few things she did drove me nearly out of my mind. She was the sweetness of life I’d been so sure I’d never get to enjoy again after losing everyone in my family.
Nina pulled her sweater up over her head and giggled. “Like my red bra for Christmas? I was going to surprise you with it and the matching panties later on tonight.”
“Matching? It must be a big day,” I joked as I gently tugged her jeans down her legs to reveal fire engine red silk boy short panties. “Mmmm….I like these. Have anything specific planned when you chose these this morning?”
She ran her fingers down the front of my shirt and stopped at the top of my pants to unbutton them. Looking up at me, she smiled. “Pretty much what we’re about to do now, except I never imagined we’d be in some abandoned farmhouse as a blizzard raged just outside.”
“This reminds me a little of that first time we were in Venice,” I said, referring to how excited she was making me.
“I loved that trip,” she said wistfully as she finished unbuttoning my dress shirt. “It’s still one of my favorite times we’ve had together.”
I shrugged out of my shirt into the chilly air and removed her red satin Christmas bra and panties. My fingers slid over her skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake. “This is definitely the coldest place we’ve ever been together.”
Sliding my tongue over her lips, I teased the tip of her tongue as I stepped out of the rest of my clothes and eased her down to the wood floor in front of the fireplace. I sat and pulled her onto my lap to straddle me, wanting to finally feel her in my arms. She wrapped her legs around my waist and eased me into her like we were two pieces of one whole meant to be together.
“You feel so good,” she murmured as she slanted her lips to cover mine. I kissed my wife like the goddess I saw her as, loving the feel of every inch of her body as she gently surrendered to me.
“I love it when you ride me like this,” I groaned as she rose off my cock only to take me slowly back into her slick cunt, rocking gently against me.
“I miss feeling like this,” she said softly against my lips.
With my hands on her waist, I lifted her and then guided her back down onto my cock. “You never have to miss this. I’m all yours.”
I lowered my head to take one pink nipple into my mouth, and sucking it between my lips, lightly bit down on her tender skin. Her moans above me as she began to ride my cock faster told me she loved this as much as I loved making her feel this way.
She tugged me back by the hair to look down into my eyes, and I saw the sensual woman that all too often lately had hidden herself fr
om me. “Tristan, this feels so good. Don’t stop.”
Kissing her hard, I groaned, “I won’t stop. I want to feel you come for me.”
Cupping the back of her head, I held her to me as she came, loving the feeling of her tumbling over the edge just as I flooded her body. When her thighs stopped quivering, she stilled on me and whispered, “Promise me you’ll always be there to rein me in when I get crazy.”
“Always. Promise me you’ll remember how much I love you when my ways drive you crazy.”
Nina gave me one of her sweet, gentle smiles and nodded. “Deal.” Sighing deeply, she added, “I can’t tell you how much it means to me that no matter what, I know you’re right there with me.”
“I’m always right there with you, princess. You’re my whole life—you and those beautiful kids of ours. I’d be lost without you.”
She kissed me sweetly and whispered in my ear, “I didn’t have my diaphragm in, Tristan. What if…?
I chuckled. “I was just telling Ethan the other night that we need another male in the house. He’d love a little brother.”
“What if we have another girl? Then you two will really be in the minority.”
I thought about us adding another baby to the family and couldn’t think of a better Christmas gift. “If we’re having another child, I don’t care what it is. I just want you and the baby to be healthy. That’s all that matters to me.”
Nina lifted her head and looked over my shoulder out the window. Standing slowly, she began to get dressed as I stretched my legs. A knock at the front door startled us, and I realized our stolen time alone was over. We dressed quickly and as I let Jensen in out of the cold, I helped Nina into her coat.
He came into the room where we’d been and looked at our fire. “Not exactly blazing. How did you two ever keep warm with such a meager fire?”
Giving Nina a sly smile, I watched her blush as I explained, “It wasn’t too bad as long as we sat close to the fire. It’ll be nice to get home, though, so lead the way, Jensen.”
We rode home in silence, but just before we reached the house, Nina leaned over to whisper to me, “You’re pretty slick, Mr. Stone. I bet he knows.”
I smiled and kissed her. “Knows what? That two people in love kept warm in an abandoned farmhouse?”
“You know what I mean, Tristan.”
“I do, but I don’t care who knows. There’s nothing wrong with a man showing his wife how much he loves her.”
She snuggled up to my side and wrapped her arms around me. “You’re right. There’s nothing wrong with that at all.”
Chapter Seven
Nina
I walked straight to the nursery the minute we got home and found the babies playing on the floor with Cara. Tressa and Diana sat next to one another looking at their favorite storybook, and Ethan sat perched on one of the three rocking horses Tristan had brought back from his trip to London. When he saw me, he stood on his chubby little legs and squealed, “Ma-ma!” like he always did when he was excited.
Tristan joined me and I crouched down and asked, “How’s my baby boy this afternoon? Have you been good for Cara?”
Cara stood and walked over to stand next to me near the door. “Ethan has a surprise for you two. Are you ready Ethan?”
He nodded eagerly and for the first time took three tentative steps before tumbling onto the floor. His best attempt at walking yet, it thrilled me to tears. Opening my arms wide, I scooped him up from the floor and planted kisses on his adorable little face.
“Look at my little man! Three steps today. That’s a new record.”
Behind me, Tristan rested his chin on my shoulder and tweaked Ethan on the nose. “Good job, Ethan. Pretty soon we’ll be chasing you around the house.”
As I nuzzled my son and made raspberry noises on his pudgy cheeks, Tristan moved around us to pick up the girls. With one in each arm, he held them as they giggled about seeing him again. I loved it when he did things like that. He may have been even sexier than usual when he was holding our two little girls in his arms.
Over their laughing, he said to Cara, “Our trip has been postponed until tomorrow, so take the night off and if you need to go anywhere, just tell Jensen. I’ve let him know he’s to take you anywhere you need to go tonight. He’ll be back from getting the Range Rover soon. We’ve had an exciting afternoon, so we’re staying in tonight with the kids and we’ll all fly out tomorrow morning.”
“Thank you, Mr. Stone. I think I will take you up on your offer and see if I can find a store open. I’ll be back in my rooms later tonight, so if any of the children need anything, just let me know.”
Cara turned to walk out of the room, but I caught her by the sleeve and said quietly, “Thank you for everything, Cara. I know you helped my husband to make the trip a surprise. That means a lot to me.”
She smiled warmly. “I’m just glad you’re all okay. I was worried sick about these little angels losing their mother.”
“Thank you. Enjoy some time off tonight. You’ve earned it.”
Cara left the five of us in the nursery to play until dinnertime, and later as we all watched Finding Nemo while we lay on our bed, I couldn’t help but think that I was the luckiest woman in the world.
* * *
“Close your eyes,” Tristan ordered as we all stood outside the entrance to one of the new villas. Looking at the kids, he said, “Let’s do peek-a-boo. I’ll tell you when, okay?” The children covered their eyes as they waited to see what lay behind the door, and I squeezed my eyes shut as Tristan opened the door.
“Okay, now everyone look.”
I opened my eyes to see a gorgeously decorated villa that reminded me of our hotel rooms at the Richmont Venice. Designed to mimic that hotel, its walls were painted in a rich golden color and a deep red tone used as an accent in the furnishings gave the villa a richness I’d loved so much in Tristan’s property in Italy.
“It’s so beautiful, honey,” I said as I spun around to look at every inch of the main room. “You had them make it look like Venice.”
Tristan bent down and kissed me on the cheek as he lifted Diana into his arms. “I wanted it to feel like your favorite place, so I told them to make sure it had the same feeling. I think they got it right.”
I looked over on the far wall leading to the hallway and saw a familiar piece of artwork. As I approached it, I realized it was my mother’s pencil drawing of Tristan’s mother we’d found in the storage unit in Pennsylvania. Done when they were still roommates in college, the portrait had quickly become one of Tristan’s favorites because of how wonderfully my mother had portrayed Tressa Stone’s gentle nature. Accented by a deep cherry wood frame, it represented what I knew this place meant to him.
“You hung my mother’s artwork here? Oh, Tristan, it’s beautiful.”
“My mother would have loved the idea of this old place becoming villas. She fell in love with the site, so it’s only right that she should be here. I couldn’t think of a better way to symbolize everything this place is to me than to hang my mother’s portrait done by your mother’s hand.”
“What about when other people rent the villa, though? Won’t it seem odd having it here?”
Tristan shook his head and smiled. “This villa is ours. It won’t be available for anyone but us, so she’ll always be here when we come back.” He pointed to a room off to the side where a live seven foot blue spruce Christmas tree stood decorated with lights and ornaments in blue and silver. Dozens of wrapped gifts for the kids sat piled up under the tree. “Merry Christmas everybody! Time to see what Santa brought us.”
Ethan led the charge to the presents, nearly crawling over his sisters as they toddled much slower to grab their Christmas gifts. I sat down in the middle of them so I could see how each of them reacted to their new toys while Tristan recorded the whole thing and I helped their little hands open their gifts.
I pulled a big box with Diana’s name on it and placed it in front of her. “Santa brought th
is for you, honey. I wonder what it is.”
She beamed at the news that the present was for her, and we tore off the paper to find a barnyard animal set just for her. As I set it up for her away from the mess of the wrapping paper piling up around us, she ran her fingers over each piece, and as she held each one up for me to look at, I told her its name.
Bringing a cow up to her lips, she gave it a kiss as I said, “That’s a cow. It goes moo.”
That’s all she needed. From that point on, moo was all she said while she played with her brand new farm set.
I looked up at Tristan and smiled. “I think she likes it, especially the cow.”
He nodded and pointed toward Tressa, who tapped on the brightly colored keys of her kiddie piano. “I think we have a future musician on our hands.”
“Tressa, do you like your gift from Santa?” I asked as I crawled over to sit next to her. Giggling, she said her first word ever. “Moo!”
Laughing, Tristan tried to correct her by saying “ma-ma,” but she wouldn’t hear of it. Moo it was, just like her sister. I turned to him and shrugged. “So the word for the day is moo.”
Like the big brother he fashioned himself to be, Ethan brought over his favorite present—a push toy with an elephant’s head that contained balls that popped up when it rolled—and said the only word he’d mastered so far. Giving me the handle of his toy to hold, he smiled and said, “Ma-ma. Ma-ma.”
I smiled and looked up at Tristan as Ethan threw his arms around me. “Two moos and a ma-ma. Not a bad day.”
“Not a bad day at all.”
Later, after a Christmas feast fit for a king, we tucked the children into their cribs in the villa next door to ours and returned to sit together on the couch in front of the Christmas tree. Unlike the year before, this holiday had been truly one full of joy.
Tristan wrapped his arm around my shoulder as I leaned my head on his chest. “I think the kids liked their presents, don’t you?”
I nodded, loving the memory of their little faces brightening every time they saw a new toy. “I think so. We spoiled them, though.”